Apparatus for forming and handling roof tiles

ABSTRACT

An automated machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like from a mortar of cement type constituent materials. The fabricating machine is composed of a number of individual mechanical components that perform steps in forming and finishing roof tiles on pallet forms continuously conveyed through the machine.

United States Patent [1'91 Patten, Jr. Aug. 7, 1973 [5 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND 1,559,499 10/1925 B'randell 425/453 x HANDLING ROOF TILES 2,705,069 3/1955 Patten 425/425 X [76] Inventor: Dan'H. Patten, Jr., 4020 E.

Washington PhoefliX, AI'iZ. Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin I 85034 Attorney-B. Deon Criddle [22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 245,794

[57} ABSTRACT U-S. An automated machine for fabricating roof tiles and [51] the from a mortar of cement type constituent mate- [58] held of S w 425/253 425, rials. The fabricating machine is composed ofa number 425/453 of individual mechanical components that perform steps in forming and finishing roof tiles on pallet forms [56] References C'ted continuously conveyed through the machine.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Brandell 425 452 X 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIHJ AUG 7 I975 saw 1 0F 3 Pmmmws mzs MEI-2W3 1 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND HANDLING ROOF TILES BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanical apparatus, preferably automated, arranged to perform steps in the fabricating of roof tiles or the like.

2. Prior Art Machines for automatically fabricating roof tiles on pallet forms conveyed therethrough have long been known and are in common use. Such machines are; of course, combinations of individual component apparatus with each component performing a specific function in the tile making process. U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,069, teaches such a component apparatus and outlines its use in combination with other component apparatus of a tile "making machine to produce a commercially acceptable roof tile. The article handling apparatus of the aforementioned patent has been found to adequately perform the step of individually separating and redirecting the individual pallets, with tiles formed thereon, from one conveyor system to another, upon their emergence from the forming portion of a continuous tile making machine. However, this known 7 handling apparatus does not provide for adjustment of the location and angle at which the apparatus contacts and lifts the tile palleLAlso, the known machine is expensive to construct and maintain and it has been found possible to produce a machine that will fabricate a more uniformly satisfactory finished tile at less cost and with fewer and more efficient machine operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an automated machine for fabricating roof tiles of uniformly high quality from a cement mixture or from like materials, with the materials being deposited from a hopper onto moving pallets.

Another object is to provide component apparatus incorporated into the roof tile fabricating machine to automatically perform the individual functions of packing, forming,compressing and finishing roof tiles on a continuous column of pallets moving through the machine.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which is adjustable to produce a clean separation of individual palletized finished tiles and for moving them onto another in-line conveyor as they emerge from the tile fabrication machine.

Still another object is to provide an efiicient and effective vibrating tamping and shaping arrangement that forms the constituent materials deposited on a pallet into a desired roof tile shape.

Still another object is to provide a roof tile fabricating machine that is easily and inexpensively constructed and that is easily disassembled to allow its variousparts to be readily cleaned and adjusted and to allow for changing of the-pallets, tamping shoe and other components when tiles of different shape are desired.-

Principal features of the present invention include a frame structuresupporting feeding and tamping and shaping apparatus and beneath which is arranged a continuous conveyor for transporting roof tile pallet forms thereon. A hopper receives roof tile constituent materials and gravity feeds them into the roof tile feeding and tamping apparatus.

The tamping and shaping apparatus is positioned beneath the hopper and above the conveyed pallet forms. The tamping and shaping apparatus receives each pallet after constituent materials have been packed thereon by rotating blades that project tangentially from around the outer circumference of a feeder roller rotating beneath the hopper. A tamper shoe arranged below the hopper oscillates towards and away from the rotating drum, thereby moving constituent materials onto the passing pallet forms and into contact with the drums tangential blades. The tamper shoe insures a constant and consistent depositing of materials onto pallet forms that. move beneath the vibrating tamping and shaping arrangement.

The tamping and shaping apparatus is arranged with a trap in the edge of the shoe facing the entering pallet forms. The trap collects constituent materials onto the passing pallets and the trapped material is then compressed as it is carried beneath the remainder of the tamping shoe. Each pallet form travels beneath a fixed finishing trowel for a final smoothing of the constituent materials packed thereon. The height of the finishing trowel above the passing pallets is regulatedby positioning screws that are manipulated to control vertical displacement of the trowel above the passing pallet forms.

Separators are secured to the conveyor to divide the individual pallet forms and to provide support for the individual'pallet ends thereby insuring a clear division between the ends of the formed tiles. The dividers facilitate separation of each individual pallet form from a following pallet form. 7

Separation and removal of each pallet from the column of pallets issuing from the fabrication machine is accomplished by a pickup mechanism. The pickup mechanism is adjustable to contact, in turn, each pallet fonn at a point on its undersurface such that the pallets rear edge that is in contact with a following pallet is elevated first. A clean separation of the ends of each tile is thereby accomplished. The pickup mechanism is arranged to place each pallet onto a second conveyor which routes the roof tile and pallet form to an area where curing of the tile and separation of the tile from the pallet form is accomplished.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5, an enlarged perspective view of the tile forming and shaping apparatus of the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:'

In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention the roof tile fabricating machine, shown generally at 10, hereinafter referred to as the machine, is supported by a frame 11. Frame 11 is composed of a base 12 and vertical legs 13 and 14 that are connected at their tops to a horizontally disposed frame 15, formed from spaced apart parallel beams 16.

Beams 16, FIGS. 1 and 3, support a housing 17 having a hopper 18 thereon. The bottom of hopper 18 is recessed and secured by welding or otherwise, to housing 17. Bolts 19, FIG. 1, are arranged to secure housing 17 to beams 16.

A pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed plates 20 are secured to the legs 13 and rotatably support an axle 21 journaled through bearings 21a and 21b fitted therein. A similar pair of plates 22 are secured to legs 14, and rotatably support an axle 23 joumaled through bearings 23a and 23b fitted therein, FIG. 4. Pairs of vertically disposed sprockets 24 are mounted on each of the axles 21 and 23, and a pair of endless chains 25 are trained thereover. The chains 25 constitute an endless conveyor for moving pallet forms 25a, FIG. 2, thereon. The pallet forms are adapted to be placed on the conveyor by an operator or by a machine positioned adjacent to plates 20, and the pallet forms each serve as a moving floor of the machine 10, on which roof tiles are formed.

Upstanding separators 26, FIGS. 2 and 5, extend between the pair of chains 25 and are welded or otherwise secured thereto, to separate pallets conveyed on the chains. The ends of a lower web 26b of each separator 26 are connected to chains 25 such that an upper edge 26a of the upstanding separator partition is proximate to the top surface of a finished roof tile as it emerges from machine 10.

Pier blocks 27 are arranged on the chains 25, between the separators 26. The pier blocks 27, one of which is shown exploded away from its chain 25 in FIG. 5, are secured to brackets 28 and 29, FIG. 5, having lower sides 28a and 29a forming links of chains 25. Bracket 28 is straight and has a hole 28b formed in its upper portion to accommodate a bolt 30 inserted therethrough and threaded into an appropriate hole 27a formed in an end of pier block 27. Bracket 29 is formed with a right angle bend therein such that another bolt 30 inserted through a hole 29b formed therein can be turned into a threaded hole 27b in the bottom of pier block 27. Bolts 30 fix the pier block through brackets 28 and 29, to chains 25. A pier bolt 31 is threaded into a hole formed in the pier block top 270, and is locked in a set position by turning a lock nut 32 on the bolt 31 against the pier block top 27c. The pier bolt thus provides a rigid pier support for a pallet positioned thereon.

Pallet forms 25a are further supported at their ends by the top edge of upright bars 33 that are fixed to the edges of the separator web 26b. Bars 33 support the ends of the pallet forms as the forms pass through the forming and compressing portions of machine 10, in a manner to be more fully set forth herein. Should finished roof tiles having nail holes formed therein be desired, appropriate upstanding posts, not shown, can be included'on the separator webs 26b to project upwardly through holes in the individual pallel forms so that the tiles would be formed around the posts.

A motor 34, FIG. 3, connected to a suitable source of electricity, is supported on a frame 12a which projects upwardly from the base 12. Motor 34 turns a transmission 36 through a pulley 340 that is fixed to the end of the motor drive shaft, a belt 35 and a transmission pulley 36a on the input shaft of the transmission. The output shaft of transmission 36 drives a chain 37 and a sprocket 38, FIGS. 3 and 4, which sprocket is secured to one end of axle 23. As sprocket 38 turns, axle 23 retates sprockets 24 attached thereto, thereby driving chains 25, and operating a pickup mechanism to be hereinafter described in detail. Rotation of axle 23 also turns a sprocket 39 secured to the opposite end of axle 23. A chain 40 interconnects sprocket 39 and a sprocket 41, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, to drive a loaded pallet form chain conveyor 42.

The loaded pallet form chain conveyor 42 transports the pallet forms, with roof tiles formed thereon, to a location where they are unloaded for drying and storage. The loaded pallet chain conveyor 42 is attached and aligned by brackets 43 fixed thereto to beams 16 such that pallet forms received on the pickup mechanism to be described will be deposited on the chain conveyor 42 after they are individually lifted from chains 25.

A second motor 44, FIG. 3, also connected to a suitable source of electricity is supported on frame 120. Motor 44 turns an output shaft 44a on which is secured a pulley 45. Pulley 45, in turn rotates, through a belt 46, a vertically disposed pulley 47 mounted on an axle 48. A belt 49 drivingly interconnects a pulley on the axle 48 with a pulley 50 on a shaft 50a that is drivingly connected by a belt 50b to a feeder roller drive pulley 63 secured to a shaft 64. Axle 48 is joumaled through a bearing 51 that is rigidly secured to beam 16 and as shown best in FIG. 5, is also joumaled through a pair of eccentric bearings 52, and through a bearing 53 at the side 17a of housing 17, FIG. 1. Bolts 54b fitted through holes in bearing collar sections 54a have nuts 54c threaded thereon to secure the collar to another eccentric bearing 54, FIGS. 1 and 3, around axle 48.

A linkage rod 55 has one of its ends connected to a collar section 54a and its other end connected to a tamper shoe pivot arm 56. Nuts 55a and washers 55b are threaded onto rod 55 to position the rod after it has been inserted through an opening provided therefore in the end of the tamper shoe pivot arm 56. The other end of pivot arm 56 is secured to a collar 57 that is fixed to a tamper shoe shaft 58. The tamper shoe shaft 58 is joumaled through a bearing 58a in the front side 17a of housing 17, FIG. 1, and has its opposite end journaled in a bearing 58b in the back side 17b of housing 17, FIG. 3. A tamper shoe collar 59 is clamped to shaft 58 by fitting bolts 59b through holes in collar sections 59a and threading nuts 59c thereon. An arm 60 is connected at one end to the tamper shoe collar 59a and projects downwardly therefrom to a tamper shoe 61 on the other end. Tamper shoe 61 is constructed to extend transverse to-the direction of travel of chains 25 and has a raised central body portion 61a and lower ends 61d that are connected to the central body portion by downwardly and outwardly projecting sections 61c.

When axle 48 is turned within the eccentric bearing 54, the rod 55 attached thereto is reciprocated back and forth, thereby swinging the tamper pivot shoe arm 56 back and forth, and oscillating the tamper shoe shaft 58. The oscillating shaft 58, oscillates tamper shoe 61 back and forth through arm 60. When the tamper shoe is oscillated to its most rearward position the flat surfaces of the tamper'foot central body 61a and ends 61d are essentially horizontal. As the arm 60 swings forward and up, the leading edge of the tamper shoe is elevated and the trailing edge is lowered, causing the tamper to push forward against any constituent materials therebeneath. The tamper shoe 61 thus acts as a paddle, pushing constituent materials dispensed from the hopper 18 thereabove in the direction of travel of the pallet forms carried by chains 25. The sloping sections 6le of tamper shoe 61 discourage side movement of constituent materials from the ends of tamper shoe 61 as it is pivoted forward. As the tamper shoe 61 is oscillated backwardly by movement of rod 55 the shoe slices through the roof tile constituent materials until it reaches its rearmost point from where the cycle is repeated.

The constituent materials dropped through hopper l8 and pushed by the tamper shoe 61 are deposited on the pallet forms 25a, FIG. 2, as they are transported therebelow on chains 25, and the materials are forced beneath turning blades 65 of a revolving feeder roller 62. Feeder roller 62 is fixed on the shaft 64 which is journaled through the sidewalls of housing 17 and that is rotated with feeder roller drive pulley 63. Both the feeder roller and the tamper shoe 61, are interposed between housing sides 17a and 17b and between the housing end 170 and a tamping and shaping apparatus 67, to be hereinafter described in greater detail.

Blades 65 are secured to the exterior of the feeder roller 62, for example, by welding and are arranged in a spaced, tangential arrangement. The tip of each blade 65 is notched at 65a providing an unequal top surface consistency of the completed tiles is, therefore, much better with the feeder roller of the present machine. The blades turning over the passing pallet forms effectively press and roll the constituent materials thereon so that a very effective compacting of the constituent materials onto each pallet form is effected.

A pallet form 25a passing through machine 10 receives constituent materials thereon which are compacted by the tamper shoe 61 and still more material, is applied and compacted by revolving feeder roller 62. The blade ends of the feeder roller 62, will however, because of their direction of rotation, pick up excess material applied to the pallet forms and carry it up to be remixed with fresh material from hopper 18. Continued movement of the individual pallet forms on conveyor chains 25 transports the pallet forms and formed tile thereon beneath a trap 690, FIG. 5, formed on the rearmost edge that tapers into a bottom surface 69 of to the feeder roller 62 such that the projections more efficiently pick up and push the constituent materials onto the pallet form passing therebeneath.

As shown best in FIG. 5, blades 65, are connected tangentially to extend from feeder roller 62 that turns as viewed in FIG. 5 in a counterclockwise direction. The feeder roller is thus rotated so that the blades 65 move in their tangential direction and with the pallet forms carried by chains 25 moving in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the feeder roller. Feeder roller 62, turning in the constituent materials, accumulates materials between the blades 65 such that the feeder roller 62 acts as a roller pressing constituent materials onto the passing pallet forms. The turning speed of feeder roller 62 is controlled through the arrangement of pulleys 50 and 63, FIG. 1, whose relative diameters and the input speed of rotation of pulley 50 control the speed of rotation of shaft 64. The speed of rotation is controlled to be approximately twice that of the conveyed pallet forms. The outer circumference therefore both rolls materials on the pallet forms and adds constituent materials thereto as it turns over the moving pallet forms.

In the tile making machine of U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,069, a feeder roller having tangential blades has been used. However, this prior art feeder roller has been turned in a direction opposite to that of drum 62 and at a lesser speed as it performed a shaping operation. With the feeder roller 62 turning as described, it has been found that with turning feeder roller and its notched roller surface not only help provide initial shaping'to the tile being formed but as has been noted, regulate the volume of tile making constituents'applied to the pallet forms, tamp materials thereon as the pallets pass beneath, and keep excess material moving and mixing into new material being supplied. The overall a tamping and shaping block 68 of a tamping and shaping apparatus shown generally at 67. The bottom edge of trap 69a shears off excess constituent materials from the top of the filled panel form passing thereunder which sheared materials are picked up by the ends of blades 65 traveling upwardly therewith along an arcuate face 70 of the tamping and shaping block 68 and past an arcuate rear face 72 of a block 71 until they are mixed with the materials flowing downward from hopper 18. The rearmost edge of trap 69a is arranged to be somewhat higher than is the bottom surface 69 such that a greater volume of loose material is present on the panel form at trap 69a than can be accommodated in loose form beneath bottomsurface 69. Movement of each pallet form from trap 69a to bottom surface 69 forces the constituent materials thereon against the incline surface of the trap and continued movement compresses the materials into the reduced area beneath the rest of the shoe. A higher density of materials on each pallet form is thereby obtained than would be possible absent the inclined trap 69a. The bottom surface 69 has a configuration of ridges, grooves and flat surfaces formed therein to form the top surface of .a roof tile.

Block 71, like the tamping and shaping block 68 therebelow, FIG. 5, is coupled to a plate 74. The vertical displacement of the tamping and shaping block 68' relative to plate 74 can be adjusted by loosening an adjustment bolt 75 that is fitted through an elongated opening formed in plate 74. Bolt 75 is turned into an appropriately formed and threaded hole in a front face of block 68, and when loosened allows a repositioning of the tamping and shaping block 68 by sliding it up or down on the rear surface of plate 74 and then retightening bolt 75 thereon. Unlike the tamping and shaping block 68, the forward surface of block 71 is fixed by welding or the like, to the rear surface of plate 74. A projecting top surface 73 of block 71 acts as canopy to keep constituent materials flowing from the hopper from traveling around fedder roller 62 in a direction opposite to its counterclockwise path of rotation.

A lip 77 projects outwardly from the top edge of the front face of plate 74 and extends over the top of housing end 17d. The lip is connected to the plate 74 by bolts 78 fitted through holes formed in both the housing end 17d and lip 77. Bolts 78 are arranged to loosely couple the lip 77 to the housing end with the weight of the plate 74 and the apparatus supported thereon being supported by balls 79. I

Balls 79 are maintained in recesses 80 formed in both lip 77 and housing end 17d, to allow for some movement of the plate lip 77 on its ball coupling with respect to housing end 17d. The plate 74, which is, as noted, fixed to lip 77, and the other apparatus attached thereto can therefor move in response to induced vibrational forces. The vibrational forces are introduced into plate 74 by movements of the outer housings of the eccentric bearings 52, when the axle 48 and inner eccentric bearings pressed thereon are rotated. Eccentric bearings 52 are clamped to axle 48 by bolts 52a, FIG. 5, and each have an arm 81 extending outwardly therefrom towards plate 74. The adjacent face of plate 74 has a block 82 formed thereon, with sides 82a in line with the arms 81. Pins 83 pivotally couple the arms 81 to block 82 so that movements of the eccentrics 52 are translated into vibrational forces, vibrating the plate 74, and the entire tamping and shaping apparatus 67. The resultant vibration of tamping and shaping block 68 causes undersurface 69 thereof to effect both a shaping and a final compressing of the constituent materials and partial finishing of the roof tile surface.

Although in this embodiment the hopper 18 is not connected so as to vibrate with the tamping and shaping arrangement 67, it should be understood that the hopper could be so connected or that a separate vibrating arrangement could be coupled to the hopper if desired to provide continuous flow from the hopper.

Bars 33 are arranged on separator web 26b, as has been explained, to support the pallet form ends during travel through machine 10. Without such full end support, the pallets might tip when the ends are subjected to the action of block 68 or of finishing trowel 84 as the constituent materials placed on the pallet forms is worked.

The finish trowel 84 is shaped to have an arrangement of ridges, grooves, and straight sections, which reflect the desired top surface of a finished roof tile. Trowel 84 presents a smooth undersurface that performs the final shaping and finishing of the roof tile top surface as it passes thereunder. The height of trowel 84 above the passing top tile surface is adjusted by turning adjusting bolts 85 against the top trowel 84. Bolts 85 are threaded through holes in fingers 86 projecting outwardly in spaced arrangement, from a bar 85a that is rigidly connected to beams 16 through side plates 87. The heads of bolts 85 are formed as knurled knobs 85b to facilitate their being turned, and, if desired, a micrometer arrangement can be used in conjunction with bolts 85 to provide an exact positioning of trowel 84 above a passing pallet form. The height adjustable side plates 87 are coupled by bolts 88 to brackets 89 which are fixed to beams 16, FIG. 1 and 3 and the side plates provide support to the edges of the sides of trowel 84 and prevent lateral expansion thereof. Trowel 84 is held rigidly such that its rearmost edge scrapes off excess constituent materials, rather than allowing an overfilled pallet to travel thereunder. Thus, a consistent and uniform finished roof tile emerges from beneath the trowel 84.

Rails 90, mounted to the insides of beams 16, support ends 26e of the separators 26 and the pallet forms carried thereby as they travel horizontally with the chains 25. This rigid support allows the feeding and tamping apparatus within the machine to exert sufficient pressure on the constituent materials covering the passing pallet to form a commercially acceptable roof tile thereon, without imparting a damaging sag or vibration to the conveyor.

Pallets emerging from trowel 84 are transported by conveyor chains 25 to the pickup mechanism 91. The hub 92, FIG. 4, of the pickup mechanism 91 is secured to axle 23 and is positioned mid-way between the vertically disposed plates 22. Hub 92, like sprockets 24, 38, and 39, is secured so as to turn with axle 23. A pair of spacer blocks 93 are mounted on opposite sides of the hub 92 and each has the inner transverse web of a U- shaped bracket 94 connected thereto by bolts 95. Each bracket 94 has a stub shaft 96 mounted on and fixed between the outer ends of their side arms, and each stub shaft is journaled through a bearing member 97. A shelf plate 98 is secured to each bearing 97. A pair of spaced apart sprockets 99 that are fixed on the axle 23 are each linked by an arm 100, that extend from one end thereof, to the vertically disposed plates 22. A bolt 101 is inserted through an arcuate elongated opening 102, FIGS. 1 and 4, formed in each plate 22 and is threaded into an appropriate hole formed in the associated arm 100. When bolt 101 is loosened the associated arm can be arcuately pivoted in conformance with the associated opening 102. Then, if the bolt 101 is tightened, the position of the arm is fixed with relation to its associated plate 22.

Each stub shaft 96 has a sprocket 103 secured thereto that is fixed to shelf plate 98 to cause it, with its bearing 97, to rotate about the fixed stub shaft 96 in response to the rotation of brackets 94. Chains 104 are trained over the respective pair of sprockets 99 and 103, whereby rotation of the axle 23, through hub 92 and brackets 94, causes rotation of plates 98 and their bearings 97 about the axis of stub shafts 96. A post that projects from and is fixed to each of the shelf plates 98 has a platform 106 secured in a normal plane to the other post end.-

As the pickup mechanism 91 turns, each platform 106 in turn will engage alternate pallets, whereby each pallet will be removed from conveyor chains 25 and deposited on chain conveyor 42. Sprockets 99 and 103 are linked by chains 104 that are trained thereover, to maintain the posts 105 in a vertical attitude as they are revolved about the axis of shafts 96. Each platform 106, in turn, moves under, engages and lifts a pallet to transfer it from the conveyor chains 25 onto the receiving chain conveyor 42. Partial rotation of the arms 100 that are connected to sprockets 99, by loosening bolt 101 and moving each arm 100 along the elongate opening 102 adjacent thereto, adjusts the angular displacement of the post 105 as it is moved into engagement with the undersurface of a loaded pallet form. When arms 100 are moved with respect to plates 22 sprockets 99 are rotated, thereby changing the angle at which the platform 106 contacts the undersurface of a loaded pallet form. Markings, not shown, may be scribed on plates 22, alongside elongated opening 102, to provide reference points for adjusting the angular displacement of posts 105. By providing a means for adjusting the contact point of each platform 106 with each pallet form undersurface, each pallet form can be broken away from its following pallet form at a desired pick-up angle, i.e., with the rear edge of each pallet form being raised slightly before the remainder of the pallet form is picked up by the platform 106. Thus, the roof tile edges formed between loading and following tiles are neatly sheared apart, rather than being compressed together as sometimes occurs if the pallet form is first lifted at its front or leading edge or even if the entire pallet form is simultaneously raised.

The machine 10, described herein, has been disclosed for use in fabrication of roof tiles from lightweight perlite containing concrete or other suitable constituent materials. However, the machine of the present invention and the apparatus contained therein could obviously be arranged to fabricate other formed cementitious products. Such materials can be first mixed in a conventional paddle mixer and then be conveyed into the hopper 18. The constituent materials are gravity fed down through the hopper, which may be vibrated to improve the flow therethrough, and the 'machine l desirably receives a continuous feed. Empty pallet forms are fed in aligned manner onto the conveyor chains 25 of machine by an operator or by a machine suitable for the purpose. Electrical control panels 107, FIG. 3, are provided above a base 12 to house the control circuitry, of machine 10 and the conveyor 42 used therewith. The pallet forms may initially pass beneath a sprayer, to be'coated with oil or other release agent, so that the constituent materials' will not adhere thereto, and so that the finished roof tiles can be easily removed from the pallet forms. The pallet forms travel continuously below the hopper 18 to form a movable floor and the constituent material is compacted thereon by actions of tamper shoe 61. The loaded pallet forms, receive additional consituent material thereon further compacting and an initial shaping by turning blades 65, after which they pass below the vibrating tamping and shaping apparatus 67. The vibrating tamping and shaping apparatus 67 presses and further shapes the constituent materials into a desired roof tile shape, after which each pallet form passes below a finish trowel 84, which provides a smooth, accurate finish shape to the roof tile.

The troweled pallet forms are moved by chains to the pickup mechanism 91, which moves the finish pallet forms onto the chain conveyor 42 which carries the pallet forms to a location where they are unloaded for drying and storage.

The construction of the presure invention involves an easily removed hopper whose removal exposes the component apparatus of the machine enabling the various component parts to be easily exposed and facilitates their removal from the machine facilitating for cleaning or repair, or to allow the component changes necessary to production of the tiler having different shapes and configurations.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like comprising a housing;

a hopper for constituent materials used in making tiles positioned above and opening into said housmg;

conveyor means for continuously moving roof tile pallet forms through said housing, said pallet forms serving as a floor for being loaded with said constituent material;

10 uent materials contacted by the moving blades are directed by said feeder roller onto the roof tile pallets as they begin to move beneath the feeder roller; a tamping and shaping means within said housing and 15 above the conveyor means and having a trap formed on its rearmost edge inclined downwardly from a forward edge to an undersurface with a desired pattern of the top surface of a roof tile formed thereon, which tamping and shaping means is arranged to vibrate against the constituent materials on top of each loaded pallet form as it passes from beneath said turning feeder roller, so as to shape and compress said consituent materials into a desired shape on said pallet forms;

a finish trowel means arranged above the conveyor 25 means to receive each loaded pallet form after it passes from beneath said tamping and shaping means, for performing a final shaping and finishing of the roof tile top surface; and pickup means for lifting said loaded pallet forms from the said one conveyor means to another conveyor means, said pickup means including adjustment means thereon to change the angle at which said pallet forms are raised. 2. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein the tamping and shaping means is suspending from the housing with hearing balls positioned in depressions in the tamping and shaping means and in the housing. 3. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as 0 recited in claim 1, wherein the pickup means includes support means at opposite sides of the conveyor means;

a horizontally disposed axle iournaled through said support means;

means for turning said axle;

a hub secured centrally on said axle;

a pair of oppositely extending U-shaped brackets having their webs connected to said hub;

a stub shaft carried by the ends of each said bracket;

a bearing support rotatably mounted on each of said stub shafts;

a sprocket means connected to each said support;

a pair of sprockets journaled on said axle;

a chain trained over said each sprocket means on a bearing support and one of said sprockets journaled on the axle; and

adjustablemeans for rotating said sprockets journaled on the axle and for fixing their rotational positions with respect to the support means. 4. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustable means includes an arm fixed to each sprocket joumaled on the axle and extending to the adjacent supportmean's;

arcuate opening means in each said support means;

and

bolt means extending through said arcuate opening means and threaded into the arm extending adjacent thereto to fix the arm to the support means. a: e 4 e s 

1. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like comprising a housing; a hopper for constituent materials used in making tiles positioned above and opening into said housing; conveyor means for continuously moving roof tile pallet forms through said housing, said pallet forms serving as a floor for being loaded with said constituent material; a tamper shoe means; means for oscillating the tamper shoe means within said housing and abOve the conveyor means to push the constituent materials onto said passing roof tile pallet forms; a feeder roller mounting having a plurality of spaced blades extending substantially tangentially therefrom journaled in said housing above said conveyor means; means for turning said feeder roller such that constituent materials contacted by the moving blades are directed by said feeder roller onto the roof tile pallets as they begin to move beneath the feeder roller; a tamping and shaping means within said housing and above the conveyor means and having a trap formed on its rearmost edge inclined downwardly from a forward edge to an undersurface with a desired pattern of the top surface of a roof tile formed thereon, which tamping and shaping means is arranged to vibrate against the constituent materials on top of each loaded pallet form as it passes from beneath said turning feeder roller, so as to shape and compress said constituent materials into a desired shape on said pallet forms; a finish trowel means arranged above the conveyor means to receive each loaded pallet form after it passes from beneath said tamping and shaping means, for performing a final shaping and finishing of the roof tile top surface; and pickup means for lifting said loaded pallet forms from the said one conveyor means to another conveyor means, said pickup means including adjustment means thereon to change the angle at which said pallet forms are raised.
 2. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein the tamping and shaping means is suspending from the housing with bearing balls positioned in depressions in the tamping and shaping means and in the housing.
 3. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein the pickup means includes support means at opposite sides of the conveyor means; a horizontally disposed axle journaled through said support means; means for turning said axle; a hub secured centrally on said axle; a pair of oppositely extending U-shaped brackets having their webs connected to said hub; a stub shaft carried by the ends of each said bracket; a bearing support rotatably mounted on each of said stub shafts; a sprocket means connected to each said support; a pair of sprockets journaled on said axle; a chain trained over said each sprocket means on a bearing support and one of said sprockets journaled on the axle; and adjustable means for rotating said sprockets journaled on the axle and for fixing their rotational positions with respect to the support means.
 4. A machine for fabricating roof tiles and the like as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustable means includes an arm fixed to each sprocket journaled on the axle and extending to the adjacent support means; arcuate opening means in each said support means; and bolt means extending through said arcuate opening means and threaded into the arm extending adjacent thereto to fix the arm to the support means. 